A woman from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan is facing a $950,000 bill for medical services she received in the United States while she was vacationing in Hawaii. Jennifer Huculak flew to Hawaii to vacation with her husband in 2013.
Just two days into her trip, her water broke unexpectedly. Huculak was just 6 months pregnant at the time. She attempted to find a medical evacuation company to transport her back to Canada, but was unsuccessful. After spending six weeks on bed rest, Huculak delivered her baby girl prematurely via Caesarean section. One year later, the family is back at home and trying to figure out what to do about the $950,000 in medical bills that accrued during their time in the United States.
The Huculak’s purchased travel insurance from Blue Cross prior to their vacation, but the company refused to cover the pregnancy complications and delivery because of a pre-existing condition. The insurance company claims that Huculak had a bladder infection when she was four months pregnant. They also claim that the Huculak’s coverage expired while they were in Hawaii. Huculak counters the insurance company’s claims that she was not eligible for coverage because she says her doctor gave her approval to travel to Hawaii.
The Huculak’s are not alone in their struggle to pay large medical bills incurred while visiting the United States. Travel insurance plans can be confusing because they aren’t regulated by the government. The family is now deciding whether to fight the insurance company or file bankruptcy.